Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia User Reviews (Page 4)
Brand names: Proscar, Propecia
Reviews for Finasteride
- SPA...
- September 7, 2020
Finasteride "I've decided to write this review for Propecia because I didn't take this drug for 9 years because of the horror reviews online, even though my hair loss was causing me intense anxiety every day. I didn't have the courage to take it until my brother started taking it. It truly does give you relief knowing that someone you know closely is taking it. Once he started taking it, I told myself it is time I take the plunge. At least if the worst happens, we'll experience it together. I've been taking it for 6 months now with little to 0 side effects. Before taking it, I was concerned about permanent penile shrinkage, ED, and watery semen. ED is definitely not an issue in the slightest. Penile shrinkage, I don't think so at all, but I'm not positive since I didn't measure before and after. If I thought there was penile shrinkage, I would stop. My GF hasn't noticed a difference. It's possible my semen is slightly more watery, but that's it."
- Bc1...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- June 27, 2016
"Have been taking Proscar cut into quarters for 15 years. Started when I was 17 and noticing my hair just beginning to thin and recede. I am now 32 and my hair is thicker and more abundant than when I started. I had minimal side effects (decreased ejaculation), which was an easy price to pay for the results. I have more hair than any of the friends I grew up with, and I am convinced I would be completely bald by now if it wasn't for this drug."
Frequently asked questions
- Nic...
- July 14, 2016
"I am taking this since the last 4 years. 1 mg tab from Dr. Reddy, and it costs less than $3 for a month in India. It's a wonder drug, and it stopped hair loss and also gives me good thick hair. Wish I had started earlier. I had very little loss of libido and think it's good for me to concentrate on other activities. No erection problem so far, but yes, reduced morning wood. I am happy with the results."
- JJa...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- June 27, 2019
"I was worried in my late 20s about hair loss, but it wasn't noticeable. The main side effect was I couldn't achieve an orgasm, which forced me to stop. I was also taking a diuretic for blood pressure at the time. In my early 30s, my blood pressure medication was changed (a non-diuretic), and I started really noticing hair loss in the front of my head (a bald spot was forming between the front of my hair and the midline -- like my father). I went back to 1mg finasteride. The sexual side effects were gone, and the balding spot is now full. I can get the generic for $14 out of pocket."
- mac...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- April 28, 2021
"After 8 months of use for widespread hair loss, there has been no improvement. In fact, more hair has fallen out. I will stay the course for another 8 months to see. Some state it takes up to two years, but my doctor said that if nothing improves by 8 months, it probably won't work."
- Adv...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- July 12, 2022
"Post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) Symptoms: genital shrinkage, genital numbness, ED, zero libido, increased penile curvature/fibrosis, ejaculation disorder, low semen quality/volume, changes in color & texture of skin (yellow/brown), tight, red scrotum every morning, dark prominent veins on scrotum, varicocele left testicle, spontaneous weight gain, moon face, emotional blunting/anhedonia, anxious 'crash', persistent anxiety/fight or flight response, shaking hands, depression, muscle atrophy, blurred vision, red/yellow eyes, night sweats, insomnia, nightmares, general fatigue/malaise, brain fog/cognitive impairment, digestive issues, body hair loss, tinnitus, chills, high blood pressure, random rashes torso/forehead, back/neck pain, muscle/eye twitches, sensitive skin, swollen lymph nodes, shallow breathing, scooped fingernails, heart arrhythmia, tingling/numbness in hands/feet, weakness in hands/arms, thinning eyebrows, receding gums."
- Pat...
- March 21, 2016
"Was severely balding/thinning prior to taking it. Started on Propecia, and although it took a little while to work (at least half a year), I ended up regrowing a lot of hair. Switched to Proscar, hair grew back even more and thicker, hairline looks great now. Very minor side effects at the beginning, none since."
- Sky...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- July 11, 2022
"Finasteride has ruined my life sexually and mentally. I wish I never took this poison and hope there will be a cure and/or it will improve over time. It’s almost been a year and a half since I stopped. I only took it for 3 months, it’s horrid living this way."
- car...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- April 19, 2023
"Last year, I decided to take 1 mg Finasteride for 3 months to address my hair loss. I didn't experience any significant side effects, I had zero trouble achieving or maintaining an erection, nor ejaculating. I do see other people online had the opposite experience. I was surprised to see how much thicker and fuller my hair had become, though it was still falling out, albeit at a slower rate. I am happy to be on it for the rest of my life. One problem I had with this drug is that my insurance does not cover it (they said it was a lifestyle medication and not a real disease - which frankly is really underestimating the importance of a head of hair to the male ego and thus happiness/avoiding depression). As a result, I was looking at spending over 100 dollars per month at the pharmacy. YMMV... just sharing my experience. Good luck to all the guys out there!"
- Can...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- February 12, 2025
"I'm the poster from Nov 2... Just a follow-up on my progression for anyone reading this. I'm still getting higher than normal libido and stronger, longer-lasting erections. I had a lot of hair shedding, which I heard was normal, and I have quite a bit of hair coming back! It started as peach fuzz, getting longer, and now it's slowly growing into real hair... SLOWLY. I feel great, energy is up, mood is great, fitness is better than ever. It seems as though my facial hair is growing back faster. I'm going to continue!"
- Ric...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- July 7, 2021
"After one year, no difference whatsoever. Looks like more hair loss comparing before and after photos. No problem with Big Al and the boys though. Will still hold a wet towel. Not bad for 60 and one year outside of triple bypass. I'm not bragging, just extremely grateful. And hey, a little hair looks distinguished, right? RIGHT!?!?"
- Ale...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- November 17, 2021
"Wow! I never believed the people who got PFS. Now I do, I took just half a pill a week ago. The night I took it, my penis had shrunk a bit, got an intense brain fog (which I still have today), couldn’t get hard (I was basically impotent), and semen was watery. The next day, I lost interest in sex, motivation hit rock bottom, joint pain in legs, and I had extreme anxiety and lots more symptoms. I quit immediately. So... this stuff is dangerous/poisonous for a few! If you want to risk chemical castration, then go for it. After half a pill a week ago, I still have fatigue, brain fog, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, small joint pain, and a lowered sexual interest. Which has gotten better each day after HALF A PILL, A WEEK AGO."
- Hdh...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- August 28, 2017
"I am 29 and was/am seriously going bald. Up until the 10-month mark, I didn't really see any momentous changes. A slow increase in hair, along with a couple of mild shedding experiences. I can say at 10 months I am very happy!!! The front is full, and the crown is coming along. Along with blow drying it and using volumizing powder, the improvement is obvious. I haven't used minoxidil properly in 5 months either! I had no major changes in libido, and the slight decrease at points was likely work stress related. If hair loss worries you, I would recommend improving your confidence by going to the gym, getting sharp clothes, or working on other aspects of your life. However, if you love your hair so much, I can recommend this product!"
- Sam...
- December 23, 2019
"I’m 29 years old. I took finasteride for hair loss for 14 days and experienced sexual side effects like decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of interest in sex. It has ruined my sex life. I immediately discontinued and am waiting for improvements."
- LOL...
- April 29, 2020
"I noticed my hair starting to thin at the age of 18. Heard about the drug, but I left it for a year, where I noticed constant hair loss (in the shower, on the pillow, etc.). I finally decided to do something about it 19 months ago. I'd say I didn't see the effects up until about 5 months ago. I shaved my head completely just to be sure, and I'm quite certain that it's thicker than before. I wouldn't think so, but looking at photos from a year ago, I reckon it's safe to say (I was on the ropes lol, grew my hair out long to compensate). My hair still falls out in the shower, but at a lower rate. I think I must be one of those middle-of-the-road guys, haven't seen too many reviews like that though! Libido still like a stallion, if anything, I reckon it makes me last longer in bed. Long term though, I think I might visit a doctor to see if there's any way to slow it down completely by upping the dose or otherwise and to check fertility. For now, I'm just happy to finish college without looking like an egg."
- JBa...
- Taken for 5 to 10 years
- March 15, 2020
"I have PFS (Post-Finasteride Syndrome). I cannot sustain an erection during sex, suffer from genital anesthesia and/or numbness, have muted/blocked/pleasureless orgasms when I masturbate, and suffer from brain fog, memory loss, and thinking at times. I have low testosterone, extremely high FSH, and pituitary problems as a result of being on Propecia on and off for years. I’ve been off of Propecia for a year. Although I’ve had shock wave therapy to remove penile scar tissue and improve nerve damage and had testosterone replacement therapy, my sexual functioning and cognitive issues persist. Oh! And I became infertile on Propecia too. Fortunately, I had enough sperm left to have a baby with my wife via IVF. Stay away from this toxic and poisonous medication! It will potentially destroy your life."
- Dcg...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- June 9, 2019
Finasteride "For some men, me included, Propecia not only stops hair loss but actually regrows hair. Individual results vary. But to see regrowth, you have to take it for a minimum of six months. If you regrow hair, you can stop taking it. But you will begin to lose hair again. I did not experience side effects."
- Anonymous
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 3, 2020
"I have been taking finasteride 1 mg for 5 weeks. I am 23 years old. My sex drive has decreased by at least 50%, but I am kind of happy that it has. Overall, I recommend this treatment because it is cheap at only £110 a year, and it's very effective at combating hair loss."
- mik...
- October 6, 2009
"I've used it for roughly 1.5 years now, and it seems to be still working; of course, there's the whole placebo effect, but this stuff is decent. Worst thing about it is it costs a lot, $2 per pill. Make sure you don't miss too many doses, or it will take a while to start working again (takes a month in the beginning). I haven't noticed any side effects that I could link to this drug. Hope this helps."
- Vwp...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- June 8, 2018
"I took 1 mg of generic finasteride for 2 weeks. While on the drug, I developed severe penile tissue changes, including crooked partial erections, pain after orgasm, loss of morning and spontaneous erections, erectile dysfunction, a more rigid penis, and veins protruding. It has completely ruined it. I had no prior medical problems before this. Please do not take this drug, it was the worst mistake of my life."
- Jam...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- October 12, 2021
"Stopped hair from falling out in the shower, thickened up a bit. Quite delightful, that'll be great with the women. Oh wait, my cock doesn't work anymore, I get shocking testicular pain, my sperm is water, when I drive my car a thought flashes through my mind that one day I will reflexively drive off the road into a tree. My short-term memory is decimated. I jump when people recognize me in the street because I'm too slow to talk. These effects came through slowly, I forgot it was even likely to be the drug until I looked again at the side effects. I was in excellent health otherwise, bar the odd depressive spell, never the type to be the 20% who suffer side effects. I find it hard to believe it's only 20%, and the effects are far more severe than I could have imagined. I've been an absolute shell, I could have easily done some serious damage to myself, thank Christ I stopped it, hopefully in time."
- Lee...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- November 27, 2018
"I have been taking Propecia for around 8 months, and I must say I’m really happy so far. This will most likely be effective for people with mild male pattern baldness with around 80% or more hair on your scalp."
- Anonymous
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- July 24, 2019
"I’ve been on this medication for 3-4 years now, and I’ve had great responses from my family about the recovery and slowdown of hair loss. I have also had many people warn me about the drug, showing my news articles, etc., however, I haven’t had any side effects at all from what I’ve noticed. I really would be skeptical about people saying they had poor experiences, as I think symptoms like anxiety/depression can be linked to all cosmetic-related treatments. For testicular issues, it would most definitely be in the minority few, only those who suffer from those types of symptoms would most want to express their experiences. I’d completely recommend this drug."
- jim...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- February 16, 2022
"I have been taking finasteride for now 2 months, and the side effects I have are low sex drive and abnormal ejaculation of semen. I did not get depression or suicidal thoughts like others have mentioned but am gonna wait till 4 months to see if I get any good results. After that, I will just quit this med."
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"I don't get the negativity surrounding this drug. Most of those reviews are by people who have used it for just a week at the most. Maybe what they experienced could have been some confirmation bias heightened by what they read in reviews like this. But still, I can't speak for their part. As for me, I have been using it for the last 4 months. Never experienced those side effects of loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, or any other. My hair loss has stopped, but I am not seeing hair growth still. They say it takes 4-6 months to see some noticeable growth. Maybe that is because I am not pairing it with Minoxidil. Planning to use it for the next 5 years if things don't go wrong."